Years ago, with scary threats of mosquitoes (Lyme’s Disease, West Nile virus) in the news, I spent some time reading about mosquito repellents. We wanted something that didn’t contain toxic chemicals, namely problematicDEET, and of course, one that would work. We lived on a farm where there were a lot of lakes and wetlands. I came upon an article written by Shoshanna Easling. I felt she had the right idea….

Seems today people expect a lot of medicine and their doctors – maybe too much.

For some, like my parents, medicine had become some sort of secular religion. They worshiped their doctors.

Due to the triumphs of antibiotics, pharmaceutical creations, the ascendancy in life expectancy and highly-touted restorative surgeries, it has lead to the expectation that medicine could fix anything.

The habit of making a heaping plate of dandelion fritters in the spring must be left over from my hippie days in college, but it is truly one of my favorite meals! Get brave in the kitchen and try your hand at making some delicious old-fashioned dandelion fritters from the sunny flower heads and then make up a mess of tender sauteed dandelion greens while you’re at it.

The fritters don’t taste like dandelions at all, and the greens are in the tradition of the original Southern greens you would find seasoned with onions, garlic and bacon….

Fritters are much like a pancake, usually with a primary ingredient like apples (apple fritters), potato or zucchini (both regional favorites).

In Italy (especially in Piedmont), Germany and Austria, the umbels (flowers resembling umbrellas) of the elderberry are batter coated, fried and then served as a dessert fritter with a sugar and cinnamon topping, known as “Hollerküchel”….

This is the time of year I am eager to start a few seeds indoors. There really is a certain art to growing seedlings. It took me a while to realize that I needed to observe certain rules to have good success at starting my own garden plants.

There is one thing many gardeners dread, and it is called damping off. Beginners and experienced gardeners alike are frustrated and disheartened when it strikes.

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We all want to stay happy and healthy this winter! Receive this important freebie: “Make Your Own Elderberry Syrup — with Easy Recipes!” printable PDF for you and your family. You’ll also get a coupon code for 15% off Sweet’s Elderberry Syrup if you don’t want to make it!